The mission statement of the
Dorcheat Historical Association & Museum, Inc. in Minden, Louisiana..is to establish and promote a strong sense of community pride by preserving our past for our future generations. We will make our patrons aware of Webster Parish’s historical assets and significance by promoting, teaching, involving, and displaying history in many unique ways. This will be not only for our community but for others outside of our area.

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116 Pearl Street Then

1920's Photo of Pearl Street

116 Pearl Street Today

Our Museum!

Welcome To The Minden, Louisiana's Dorcheat Museum Blog

Thank you for visiting the Dorcheat Historical Association and Museum Blog. The Dorcheat Historical Museum is the only museum inside the city limits of Minden, Louisiana. The museum opened June 10th, 2008. Admission Free with donations welcomed. Our hours are, Tuesday - Friday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., closed for lunch from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., open again from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday we are closed but open by appointment for special showings and meetings. We would like to invite you to visit our location at 116 Pearl Street in Minden, Louisiana. We look forward to sharing our history with you. For more information please contact museum director Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or 318-423-0192.

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The Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Inc.

This Minden, Louisiana Webster Parish Muesum is Funded in part by a grant from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Commission.http://www.visitwebster.com/1-888-972-7474

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Help Us Keep History Alive In Webster Parish

In return for your support, you will receive not only a tax deduction, but also, invitations to all museum activities. Please give every consideration to helping with this endeavor. Be a part of Webster Parish history by becoming a proud supporter of the Webster Parish Dorcheat Historical Association and Museum.All contributions may be mailed to:

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Standing Room Only Crowd At Dorcheat Historical Museum Monday Night

Standing Room Only Crowd At Dorcheat Historical Museum

The 41st “Night at the Museum” was held to a
packed house, Monday March 10th, 2014.Over 100 people
turned out to hear four different speakers.Webster Parish Historian Mr. John Agan began the evening with a brief
history of the German Town Colony and its importance to our area.Agan was followed by Susie Lester, Otto
Krouse and LeVerne Kidd.These last
three speakers are of German heritage with ties to the original colony
settlers.They all spoke of their early
childhood days and what it was like growing up in Minden.Much was learned about
Minden’s German heritage and influences that are still here
today.

The 42nd speaker at the museum will be Mr. Butch
Williams, on April 14th, 2014.Don't miss your
chance to hear about some of Minden's earliest families. The museum events will be held in the
Media/Learning room at the DorcheatHistoricalAssociationMuseum, 116
Pearl Street, Minden, La. Museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with first-come, first-serve seating. Program
begins at 6:00
p.m., admission is free with
potluck desserts and snacks welcome.

For more information contact Schelley Brown Francis at
318-377-3002 or visit www.museuminminden.blogspot.com
to sign up for the museum email blast. You can also find the museum on
Facebook. To learn more about Webster Parish's rich history visit the DorcheatHistoricalAssociationMuseum located at 116 Pearl Street in Minden. Museum hours; closed on Monday, Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed from 1-2 for lunch), Saturday CLOSED. The museum
admission is free. Also open for special tours and rental by appointment.

Webster Parish Historian John Agan began the program for the evening

Susie Lester told of her early childhood

Otto Krouse a direct descendant of the Colony

LeVerne Kidd tells of her early childhood and her German Heritage

Over 100 people attended the event, many sharing Minden's German Heritage as direct descendants of the Colony

The Fourth Museum Cookbook Is Here

This book filled with stories of days gone by!

The Back Cover

A Message From Cora Lou Robinson

Recipes and History

Our FourthCookbook Is HERE!AcknowledgmentsAs spokesperson for the museum, I would like to thank thecontributors to this cookbook for the wonderful recipes and stories. This bookis dedicated to those that remember fondly "The good ole days of shoppingand eating along the Main Streets of small town America and the local entrepreneursthat operated these establishments." When you think of your youth, youthink of soda fountains, home delivered groceries and the local families thatworked or owned these small stores and restaurants. With those memories weremember meals shared at the local Drive-In or Sunday dinners. We carry theseprecious memories with us, even when our small town life seems to disappear andmany of those store fronts are torn down, faded and worn with time.I would like to recognize Brian Carlisle for his design workalong with John Agan for his historic knowledge, folk artist Cora Lou Robinsonfor the cover art, and the Wise Family for the Wise Family recipes. Theirtalents made this more than a cookbook. I especially thank the advertisers formaking this book possible!We have saved a part of history with these memories. Many willnever know about the old time country stores that we remember as children. Weare the lucky ones we can be brought back to these places in our minds withjust a simple smell in the air, a faded sign on the side of an old building ora favorite recipe.The proceeds of this book will be used to help us expand ourmuseum by purchasing and renovating the building next door! We thank you foryour support in this effort. For information call 318-377-3002. Donations maybe mailed to P.O. Box 1094, Minden, Louisiana 71058. Please visit us at 116 Pearl Street, Minden, Louisiana orwww.musueminminden.blogspot.com we are also on Facebook.Sincerely,Schelley Brown FrancisDirector of the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Inc.

GIVE A GREAT GIFT AND HELP THE MUSEUM TOO! The New Cookbook Is Here!

Act Fast Because They Will Not Last Long! So Come Get Your Copies Soon!

$20 Per Book Plus $5 Shipping and Handling Make Checks Payable To: The Dorcheat Museum P.O. Box 1094 Minden, LA 71058 or come by the museum and pick your copies up today for $20 each!

Hunter's Playhouse

Cora Lou Brown Robinson Painting

Limited Edition Cora Lou Robinson

The Dorcheat Museum will be offering a limited edition print of an original painting by folk artist Cora Lou Brown Robinson. This print will be an 11 x 14 for $25 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling. We will also offer a 20 x 24 canvas reproduction Giclée for $175. Don’t miss your opportunity to have a piece of 1950’s memories of Minden in your home.Mail your payment to Dorcheat Museum P.O. Box 1094 Minden, La. 71058. For more information call Schelley Brown at 318-423-0192.Cora Lou Brown Robinson and Hunter’s PlayhouseKnown to most simply as “Cora Lou", this Minden native and resident is recognized for not only her talents as a professional folk artist but also as a teacher, wife, mother, grandmother and true product of a deep -rooted Minden family. Born in 1935 to Ed and Celeste Brown, Cora Lou has two siblings--one brother, Ed Brown and one sister, Mary Celeste Powers. Cora Lou is married to Ronald Robinson. They have three children and seven grandchildren.Her childhood was what she calls “picture perfect.". She played from morning ’til night with the neighborhood children. Their lives followed a pattern. During the week they went to school, and each Saturday morning they listened to “Let’s Pretend” on the radio and that afternoon would walk to the “picture show” and then walk safely home. Each Sunday they went to Sunday school and then to church. She remembers the thrill of chasing lightning bugs at dusk while all the neighborhood parents sat outside and visited on their front porch. It was a simpler time in Minden, Louisiana, and for many of the people that grew up here.Her teenage years were wonderful in part due to the generosity of the Hunter family. The Hunter family has owned the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden since 1901. Back in the 1940s the Hunters became the recreation hub for all of Minden and the surrounding area. Everyone swam in their pool, played in their playground, danced in their playhouse, and watched countless ballgames in their park. No other town has ever seen the likes of the Hunter family in Cora Lou’s eyes. The 1940s, 50s and early 60s were a special time in Minden, Louisiana because of the generosity of Gladys and Larry Hunter. Cora Lou’s love of the special times and memories of the 1950s and Hunter’s Playhouse is depicted in one of her first paintings of a dance at the Playhouse.Cora Lou Brown Robinson says her paintings are about “God and Country, Family, and Friends.” Many of her ideas for her paintings come from her childhood and all come from her heart. Her paintings have been featured all across the United States and no one appreciates her more than her hometown and what she does for them by creating their memories on canvas.The following is taken from the “Memories of Hunter’s” book

Memories are precious, yet hard to expressA golden moment, suspended in a capsule waiting to come again---but never willA safe haven in the storm of todayA part of time so dear and so wondrous--one would have to have lived it to fully understand itA slice of life we wanted our children to experience--but they did notA time almost pure if compared to today’s lifestylesSomething we can almost hold in our hands, yet not graspA man and a woman so totally dedicated to young people that they made them their lifeOur own youth and innocence ---only a yesterday away------Cora Lou RobinsonThis project to benefit the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum is sponsored by Ben and Linda Hunter, Cora Lou Robinson, Easley’s Fine Arts, Dr. and Mrs. Edward Brown, Gibsland Bank and Trust, Ann Mays Harlan, Steve G. Kirkikis, M.D., Earlene Mendenhall Lyle, Richard Campbell D.D.S. (Dr. Feelgood), A. Loye & Peggy W. Jone